“Just another day in the life of Connor, the ghost of Caveirdus.” I moved slowly through the desolate streets, my boots crunching on broken glass and debris. What day of field training was this? Three, four? Didn't matter. The days blurred together and I didn’t even bother trying to keep track of the days of the week anymore. Today was all about training how to be sneaky—No fights, no engagements, no looting, just stealth.
First, it started with tracking some oblivious Riftspawns, then tailing some SCAVs as they made their way around the streets. I hadn’t been caught yet so I must be doing something right.
Rounding the corner, something caught my eye that made me stop dead in my tracks. There, in the distance, was a group of people—the first I'd seen since arriving here. They moved with purpose, their footsteps light and practiced. They were armed, working together, wiping out Riftspawns like pros.
"Damn," I whispered, ducking behind a crumbled brick wall. "This is new."
I decided to watch from a distance, fascinated by their fluid teamwork. They were like clockwork, tearing through the Riftspawns like they were nothing.
"Who are they?" I wondered. I knew I had to learn more, so I decided to follow them, all the while remaining hidden from view. It wasn't easy, but my training and my cloak came in handy.
There were four of them—two guys, two girls. One girl was tall and slim, with a mop of fiery red hair. She handled her shotgun like a boss, blasting Riftspawns left and right. Shotgun Red, I called her in my head.
The other girl was shorter, with dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. She moved gracefully, her hands glowing with an icy blue light. She controlled the cold, freezing and shattering enemies. I dubbed her Ice Queen.
One guy had a rugged appearance, with short-cropped hair and a muscular build. He carried a rifle and seemed to be able to manipulate the energy of his surroundings, redirecting it to blast his enemies. Mr. Energy, it was.
The second guy was lanky and had a boyish charm about him. His hands glowed with a soft purple light, and I watched in awe as he levitated a massive chunk of debris and slammed it into a Riftspawn. Telekinetic Dude seemed fitting.
I trailed them through the city, watching as they took down Riftspawn after Riftspawn. I couldn't help but be impressed by their teamwork and tactics. They moved like they'd been doing this forever.
As they wiped out a small pack of Riftspawns, I heard the tall woman with the shotgun speak up, her voice heavy with exhaustion. "Good work, guys. Let's take a breather before we move on."
"Agreed," said Mr. Energy, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. "We could all use a break."
As they stopped to rest, I crept closer, making sure to stay hidden from view. Just in case, I wrapped my enchanted cloak around me, activating its stealth ability, and hid behind the wreck of a car. I couldn't afford to be seen. I wanted to learn more about them, and if they discovered me, there was no telling how they'd react.
"Ugh, I hate this place," groaned the Ice Queen, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. "I can't wait to get back to the Sanctuary."
Shotgun Red laughed. "You're always complaining, Sarah. This Server’s not so bad. Sure, it’s more barren than the other Servers we’ve been to, but at least it's never boring."
So, the Ice Queen had a name – Sarah. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
I continued shadowing them, all sneaky-like, as they made their way through the city, sticking to the shadows and observing them closely. They seemed to know exactly where they were going, navigating the maze of abandoned buildings with ease.
Eventually, they came to a stop outside a run-down grocery store, its windows shattered and its shelves picked clean. It seemed like an odd place for them to stop, but I figured they must have had a reason.
"Alright, let's see what we can find in here," Mr. Energy, or Ben as I overheard, said as he stepped through the broken door.
The group moved inside, spreading out and rummaging through the wreckage. I remained outside, listening to their voices as they talked and laughed. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. They seemed so at ease with one another, like a real team. And here I was, all alone—not even the sound of Aubrey’s voice asking how my day has been.
"I swear, there's never anything good left," Sarah grumbled, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the store as she kicked aside some debris.
"You know the drill, Sarah," Maddie, aka Shotgun Red, replied. "We take what we can find and make do. We're not exactly in a position to be picky."
As they rummaged through the store, searching for loot, Ben complained, "Man, it's been slim pickings lately."
Maddie laughed. "Well, what did you expect? It's not like the System's gonna just hand us a treasure trove of goodies."
Ben grinned and nudged her playfully. "A guy can dream, right?"
I could hear the camaraderie in their voices, even as they complained about their situation. It was clear that they had been through a lot together, and it had only served to strengthen their bond.
"I found some canned soup!" Luke, Telekinetic Dude, called out triumphantly. "It's not much, but it's something."
“Wait, whoever looted this place missed that?” Sarah asked in disbelief.
“Guess so,” Luke answered. “It was under an aisle.”
"Nice find, man," Ben said, slapping him on the back. "We'll make a feast of it tonight."
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After a while, the group reconvened near the entrance, sharing their meager findings. They divvied up the few MREs and bottles of water they'd found, each taking a share before moving back out into the city.
As they walked, they continued to chat and joke, their spirits seemingly undiminished by the harsh reality of their situation. I couldn't help but be drawn to them, even as I remained hidden in the shadows.
"Hey, you remember that time we took on that Riftspawn that was like, five times our size?" Luke said, laughing at the memory.
"Oh man, that was insane," Maddie replied. "I still can't believe we managed to pull it off."
"I still have nightmares about that thing," Sarah shuddered. "If I never see another one like that again, it'll be too soon."
Their conversation continued, weaving in and out of memories and experiences. I felt like I was getting to know them, even though they had no idea I was there. They had each other's backs, and it was clear that their friendship was as strong as their abilities.
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We finally made it to this small, overgrown park, the last bits of a playground barely poking out from the weeds and trash. The group picked a sorta-clear spot under a gnarled tree to take a break. I found a sneaky spot behind some bushes, close enough to eavesdrop but out of their sight.
As they settled down, breaking out their pathetic excuse for food and sharing a quiet meal, I took the chance to study 'em closer. I couldn't help but notice how they talked to each other, that easy familiarity between them.
Their banter kept going, and I couldn't help but listen in, a little jealous of the bond they shared.
Maddie started in. "Hey, remember that time we found that freaky Riftspawn nest, and Ben almost had his face melted off?"
Everyone laughed as Ben acted all offended. "Hey, I was just trying to get a better look! How was I supposed to know they'd spit acid at me?"
Luke jumped in. "Oh, come on, Ben. It's not like it would've made much of a difference. Your face isn't exactly a prize, anyway."
The laughs got louder, and Ben rolled his eyes, but I could tell he liked the teasing. They were really close, even when they were giving each other a hard time.
"So, what do you guys think about the rumors of that huge Riftspawn roaming around?" Ben asked, breaking the chill silence.
"I don't know," Maddie said, frowning. "But if it's true, we gotta be extra careful. We don't wanna end up like those poor idiots who tried to take it on last week."
"Yeah," Sarah agreed, her voice heavy. "I can't believe they're all gone."
I could hear the real sadness in her voice, and it hit me that they probably lost friends in this hellish place. Death could come any second, and even the strongest bonds could be shattered just like that.
As they kept talking, I found myself lost in my thoughts. I was really lucky to have met Aubrey almost as soon as I got here. Wonder what it would have been like if she didn’t find me. What if something were to happen to her one day? Was it better to be a loner and avoid the pain of losing someone? What if I met up with these guys instead? Damn it, Connor. Stop thinking of ‘What ifs’.
My thoughts got cut off by a distant roar and the ground shaking under my feet. The group’s Interfaces activated as they sprang into action, their laughter and banter gone, replaced by a tense edge.
"Yep, that's a Riftspawn, alright," Luke said, sounding real nervous. "And it sounds like a big one."
"Okay, everyone, keep it together," Maddie ordered, her face all serious. "We've handled these freaks before, and we can do it again."
The group got moving, heading toward the ruckus with their weapons ready. I hung back for a sec, trying to decide if I should follow them or just stay put. But in the end, curiosity and wanting to learn from these guys got the best of me, and I followed, making sure to keep my distance.
"What the hell am I getting myself into?" I muttered under my breath.
As we got closer to where all the noise was coming from, it was like someone had gone to town with a wrecking ball. Houses were just piles of bricks, and the ground looked like it'd been through a blender. It was pretty damn obvious that this Riftspawn was a real powerhouse.
And then, suddenly, we were upon it.
The Riftspawn was one ugly, massive beast, like something out of a bad fever dream. It had four tree trunk-like legs, each ending in some nasty-looking claws that tore up the ground like it was nothing.
The hide was a gross, patchy green, with thick, armor-like plates that looked like they'd give even a tank a run for its money. And running down its back was a row of jagged, bony spikes, shaking and quivering with each move. Its head, though—that was the real kicker.
This thing's head was a gnarled, fleshy mess, with too many eyes of different sizes, blinking and darting every which way. Its huge mouth was full of jagged, broken teeth, and it drooled something fierce—stuff that hissed and steamed when it hit the ground. And man, did it reek—like a landfill on the hottest day of summer.
It moved slow, but with purpose, the ground shaking like a minor earthquake with every step. It seemed like it was hunting, sniffing the air and letting out these deep, rumbling growls that made my chest feel like it was gonna cave in.
As it stomped around, it tore through the area like it was made of paper, flinging debris every which way. The air around it seemed charged, making my skin crawl. This monster was a walking disaster.
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The battle kicked off with Maddie's shotgun spitting out a burst of flame, scorching the Riftspawn's ugly hide. It bellowed in pain and anger, all those creepy eyes locking onto the group with pure hate. I stayed put, gripping a busted-up wall, praying I wouldn't be spotted.
Ben zipped around the debris, letting off energy blasts that hit the monster with crazy precision. Sarah, on the other hand, conjured an icy storm that slowed the beast's movements. Luke chucked rubble at the Riftspawn with his telekinesis, making it stagger and sway.
It was a full-on destruction dance. The team moved like one well-oiled machine, covering each other and exploiting the Riftspawn's weak spots. But even with their kickass teamwork, it was pretty obvious they were struggling.
Injuries started piling up. Maddie caught a hit from the beast's massive limb and slammed into a wall with a sickening crunch. Ben's energy blasts petered out as he struggled to focus, blood running down his face from a nasty cut.
I clenched my jaw, my hands shaking, wanting to help but knowing I couldn't risk it. Watching them fight was brutal, and it felt like a freakin' eternity before anything changed.
And then, when it looked like all hope was gone, something clicked. Maddie's face twisted with pain and determination as she let loose a fireball so intense it looked like it swallowed the world. Luke's eyes glowed, and he yanked a hunk of concrete from the ground, hurling it at the Riftspawn. Sarah amped up Luke's attack with her ice powers, turning it into a comet-like projectile.
Their combined assault nailed the creature like a meteor, making a huge explosion and a shockwave that sent dust and debris flying. The Riftspawn, finally beaten down, let out a sad, pathetic whine and hit the ground, dead.
Everything went quiet, except for the group's ragged breaths. They stared at the monster they'd just taken down, their faces a mix of relief and exhaustion.
But then, out of nowhere, new footsteps crashed the party. Another group of players showed up, their menacing glares fixed on Maddie, Ben, Luke, and Sarah. I could see the cold, calculating gleam in their eyes, and I knew right then that the battle was far from over.